Designed and built by Andrij Obarymskyj
WHEN: Unveiling is January 12-13 at Cheeky Bee in Warkworth
Andrij Obarymskyj is retired from a career of more than 30 years in forestry with the federal government’s Canadian Forest Service based in Sault Ste. Marie. He spent most of those years carrying out research in the forests of Ontario and New Brunswick.
While working in the silence of the forest he experienced that trees have a voice of their own. His focus is now to build guitars using Canadian wood as much as possible and, in so doing, perpetuate the voice of the trees through the instrument.
Andrij first mentored with the award-winning master violin and cello luthier, Raymond Schryer, from the Sault Ste Marie area.
Andrij learned at that time that his grandfather had been an instrument maker in the Ukraine. This revelatory information from his father helped Andrij to understand his drive and desire to build guitars.
In retirement he will specialize in designing and crafting innovative, customized guitars. Andrij is also currently mentored by master luthier Tom Bills from St. Louis Missouri. The unconventional design of this current acoustic parlor-sized guitar is the result of meticulous research and experimentation. This guitar will be gifted to a family member.
It will be on display at Cheeky Bee Candle Company and Gallery on both Fri., Jan. 12 and Sat., Jan. 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Andrij will also be on hand to explain some of the features of this guitar, and guitarists in attendance will be welcome to play it. The most notable design difference is the carbon fibre beam in the core of the neck that extends from the nut all the way through to the bottom of the guitar. As a result, the sound hole of this guitar is on the side rather than in the traditional center location.
More than 45 years ago Andrij’s late father had acquired a large supply of rough milled black walnut from a farmer in Sharon, Ontario. Andrij particularly enjoys shaping and sculpting this black walnut which he used to make the top, back, head and finger board of his newest creation. The neck is made of Eastern white cedar. The sides are made of laminated mahogany veneer, and the bindings, heel and bevels are made of bloodwood. The glossy French polish finish is the result of dozens of hand-rubbed applications of a mixture of shellac and walnut oil.
Cheeky Bee is located at 23 Main Street in Warkworth.
